﻿Trof. J. Milne — On the Flotation of Icebergs. 



69 



We have here the solution to two theoretical cases of supposed bodies 

 of ice floating in sea- 

 water, which I think 

 will considerably aid us 

 in forming some idea as 

 to the depth to which 

 icebergs extend beneath 

 the surface of the water, 

 — the practical solution 

 of which problem is sur- 

 rounded with so much 

 difficulty. The results 

 are obtained from two 

 regular solids, but yet it 

 is evident that they can 

 be roughly appliedto any 

 solids which approxim- 

 ate to such forms. Now 

 from Case I.,where cones 

 floating apex down wards 

 are considered, it is 

 evidently possible for 

 floating ice to have a 

 depth below the surface 

 of the water in com- 

 parison to that which is 

 above immensely greater than has generally been believed. But 

 the question now is, have forms approximating to such inverted 

 cones any existence in nature ? All that I can say to the contrary 

 is by appealing to the results of observation and to the consequences 

 of degradation upon a block of ice after leaving its parent the 

 glacier, — both of which, as pointed out before (Geol. Mag. 1876, 

 p. 306), appear unfavourable to such views. 



I might also add, as another argument against the probability of 

 ice extending to abyssal depths, that pressure tends to liquefy ice, 

 or, in other words, to lower the freezing-point of water, and ice 

 at great depths is under great pressure. For example, ice at the 



